[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Originally Posted by bmwz4g29driver

Tried and tested I suppose. But it really doesnt feel great to buy a 10 year old tire. Do you know any newer tires that would be good with the G29?

The PS4 is not an old tire. The fixation with the PPS etc is the *star tires were developed with both BMW & Michelin custom tuning the tires for the BMW suspension.



Retail Tire - BMW * Tire

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

The PS4 is not an old tire. The fixation with the PPS etc is the *star tires were developed with both BMW & Michelin custom tuning the tires for the BMW suspension.

Thanks for sharing - this is what I was referring to - you can actually see the difference by looking at the tires if they’ve run across some dust or debris. When I had a tire replaced recently I could tell immediately by looking at the tread that it was not the * tire. Those compound differences make a real difference!

[bmwz4g29driver]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Thanks for sharing - this is what I was referring to - you can actually see the difference by looking at the tires if they’ve run across some dust or debris. When I had a tire replaced recently I could tell immediately by looking at the tread that it was not the * tire. Those compound differences make a real difference!

This is damn interesting!

I just got a quote from my BMW dealer to swap my tires for the super sports. It's about 250 bucks more expensive than online+random garage but if they are star rated (which I assume they are when buying directly from BMW) that is definitely worth it.

Plus the peace of mind of getting it done properly, I've had mixed experiences with random garages. Also the coffee is better at BMW.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by bmwz4g29driver

This is damn interesting!

I just got a quote from my BMW dealer to swap my tires for the super sports. It's about 250 bucks more expensive than online+random garage but if they are star rated (which I assume they are when buying directly from BMW) that is definitely worth it.

Plus the peace of mind of getting it done properly, I've had mixed experiences with random garages. Also the coffee is better at BMW.

They will often match or come close to a third party tire shop, like Discount tire in the US if you show them the rates you can get. The advantage here is places like Discount tire give you a tire warranty for free or for very little cost whereas BMW doesn't unless you buy it separately.

Also, don't make that assumption - be very clear you want the OEM* tire and make sure they put that tire on the car.

[FrostyWinters]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

The PS4 is not an old tire. The fixation with the PPS etc is the *star tires were developed with both BMW & Michelin custom tuning the tires for the BMW suspension.

PS4 was introduced in 2017. PSS was introduced in 2011. BMW's Star-spec PSS was introduced in 2014 (based on this press release: https://mb.cision.com/Public/55/9611...eac382d2be.pdf). They are old. While the suspension is tuned to work with these tires, I feel a new summer tire design (i.e. RE-71RS) will provide more overall grip compared to these Michelins.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by bmwz4g29driver

Tried and tested I suppose. But it really doesnt feel great to buy a 10 year old tire. Do you know any newer tires that would be good with the G29?

The PS4 is the newer and updated version of the PSS.


The Star PSS tires are different than the regular PSS tires (different formulation/ compounds). So when you refer to the PSS as 10 year old tires it isn't the same tire.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by FrostyWinters

PS4 was introduced in 2017. PSS was introduced in 2011. BMW's Star-spec PSS was introduced in 2014 (based on this press release: https://mb.cision.com/Public/55/9611...c382d2be.pdf). They are old. While the suspension is tuned to work with these tires, I feel a new summer tire design (i.e. RE-71RS) will provide more overall grip compared to these Michelins.

Don’t confuse marketing with good engineering. There’s a reason they don’t need to update it

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by FrostyWinters

There are newer tires than PSS, PS4, and PS4S. What's the fixation on old Michelins?

No fixation, just nothing else currently in the US market that can outperform them.

[Westside Guy]

I really wish that BMW had allowed us to select the PS4S tires when we did the build on our cars. I suspect that many of us would have selected them instead of the PSS they shipped.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by FrostyWinters

I feel a new summer tire design (i.e. RE-71RS) will provide more overall grip compared to these Michelins.

The RE71RS is a good dry track tire, otherwise underperforms and is far from being a good solution for a sports car driven predominantly on the street.

[SpeedyATL]

Has anyone tried the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tire on the Z? I put them on my previous 440GC and really liked them. At Tirerack they are a 36% discount to the Mich STAR tire.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...i&autoModClar=

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I really wish that BMW had allowed us to select the PS4S tires when we did the build on our cars. I suspect that many of us would have selected them instead of the PSS they shipped.

100% agree especially since I plan to drive the car if it's cold but not snowy / salty out.

After I finally get official notes about the car being in production, I'm going to hit them up about a swap just like this. Take the PSS's of and replace them with PS4's. They show on their site that they sell them and install them for folks in need of new tires. Maybe they'd actually consider any PSS's removed as still being "new" and able to install onto a different car. It's a long shot, I think that might make them used even if I never put a single mile on them, but I will be asking. And if I have them do the work regardless it's one less thing for me to take care of afterwards. I'm a very capable DIYer but I definitely can't install tires.

[tracer bullet]

A tire's intro date doesn't necessarily mean that updates haven't been applied over time. And agreed, not sure what else out there is better. At a point you just have a lot of great tires to choose from and nothing really stands out. Anything one is good at, there's something else they're worse at. And those would be tiny differences. Also agree an RS71 is not a good street tire.

Depends on what you want to do. I will drive spiritedly and do know 1st hand that the PS4's aren't quite as good as PSS's at the limit. But they're super close. And for a long while to come, I won't be as familiar with the Z4 as I am with my 135i, and so it'd be a while before I realize that difference once again. I'll be back to driving 8/10ths perhaps max for a long while. Especially when I admit I primarily drive to work, my kid to swimming lessons, things like that.

Noise, dry grip, wet grip, ability to handle lower temps, and so on - pick one or two things you prize the most, get the tire that does them, and then understand the rest of the metrics will suffer.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

100% agree especially since I plan to drive the car if it's cold but not snowy / salty out.

After I finally get official notes about the car being in production, I'm going to hit them up about a swap just like this. Take the PSS's of and replace them with PS4's. They show on their site that they sell them and install them for folks in need of new tires. Maybe they'd actually consider any PSS's removed as still being "new" and able to install onto a different car. It's a long shot, I think that might make them used even if I never put a single mile on them, but I will be asking. And if I have them do the work regardless it's one less thing for me to take care of afterwards. I'm a very capable DIYer but I definitely can't install tires.

I seriously doubt that the dealer will do a switch like this free of charge and he will hit you up and ask you to pay for four new tires. You should save your money now and make the switch when you need to replace your first set of tires.

[Argo]

Originally Posted by bmwz4g29driver

Tried and tested I suppose. But it really doesnt feel great to buy a 10 year old tire. Do you know any newer tires that would be good with the G29?

Agree with you there. The PSS was once top dog but that's no longer the case. I definitely wouldn't replace mine with another set if I had to do it today.

Originally Posted by bmwz4g29driver

It seems what I have available here are:

MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 5
MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORT

Anyone have any insight on the difference? Which would be best for regular cruising and the occasional spirited drive on twisty mountain roads?

For your needs the Pilot Sport 5 seems like a great choice. They're slightly more touring oriented than the 5S, and likely as grippy as the PSS given they're a newer model (compounds have advanced in the last 10 years).

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I really wish that BMW had allowed us to select the PS4S tires when we did the build on our cars. I suspect that many of us would have selected them instead of the PSS they shipped.

I have this new philosophy about the Michelin lottery - only buy cars on the lot, and only fitted with the Michelins. Which means be content with my car for a while and keep getting lucky with deals falling through. This is what pushed me over the edge to trade for the g80 manual. With the Z handschalter I highly doubt any will be available - seems like everyone is ordering them… but demand will wane at some point, perhaps

[FrostyWinters]

Y'all are saying RE-71RS is not a "good" street tire, and I'm here thinking about putting Pilot Sport Cup 2s on the manual Z4 when I get it.

Maybe my priorities are different when it comes to my weekend/track/toy car, but I prefer maximum dry traction over any compromises for wet weather, let along cold weather, performance.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by FrostyWinters

Y'all are saying RE-71RS is not a "good" street tire, and I'm here thinking about putting Pilot Sport Cup 2s on the manual Z4 when I get it.

Maybe my priorities are different when it comes to my weekend/track/toy car, but I prefer maximum dry traction over any compromises for wet weather, let along cold weather, performance.

Yessss! Do they make the cups in the stock sizes or do you have to switch wheels? Only problem is it can’t be your daily.

[bmwz4g29driver]

Originally Posted by Argo

For your needs the Pilot Sport 5 seems like a great choice. They're slightly more touring oriented than the 5S, and likely as grippy as the PSS given they're a newer model (compounds have advanced in the last 10 years).

Yeah honestly I drive my Z4 like a roadtrip cruiser 90% of the time (unlike my previous Miata ND2 that I abused to the limit every weekend, god I miss her sometimes).

If the PS5 is quieter and more comfortable than the PSS (but still with decent grip) it's a no-brainer for me. But people are praising the sh*t out of the PSS plus the OEM* is a big advantage. No * for PS5.

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

They will often match or come close to a third party tire shop, like Discount tire in the US if you show them the rates you can get. The advantage here is places like Discount tire give you a tire warranty for free or for very little cost whereas BMW doesn't unless you buy it separately.

Also, don't make that assumption - be very clear you want the OEM* tire and make sure they put that tire on the car.

I have gotten replacement tires at Lieth BMW in Raleigh with a price match against Tire Rack.

The SA told me I could not pass state inspection on the tires I had. Ws hoping to get a few more months out of them so I was not surprised.

I told him thanks & I would come back for a reinspection when I picked up a set of tire. He asked what I was going to do about the tires & I told him I usually use Tire Rack or Costco.

He asked me how much I was paying & I pulled up Tire Rack on my phone. He said can we do it if I match the price? Done deal new tires + inspection passed.

Also bought a single tire at BMW Wilmington NC getting the same deal. You have to speak-up & not be adverse to leaving if the price in not a good one for you.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I seriously doubt that the dealer will do a switch like this free of charge and he will hit you up and ask you to pay for four new tires.

I'm definitely not expecting it, but will run it by them, that's all.

I could sell the stock PSS's on Craigslist, I have done it before. Not ideal, takes a while for odd sizes and you get about 50% the value.

Probably would instead get some Supra wheels or something generic and put winters on them, and just swap twice a year. Then once the PSS's wear out I could go to the PS4's or similar A/S tires year round and then try to sell off the Supra wheels. It's actually my current plan.

Just hoping to avoid the effort of 2 sets of wheels. I've been doing 2 sets of wheels on 2 cars for several decades. I'm fine dropping that bi-yearly work in half (I swap the wheels myself).

I will however ask. You never know for sure!

[FrostyWinters]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Yessss! Do they make the cups in the stock sizes or do you have to switch wheels? Only problem is it can’t be your daily.

Yep, Cup2 comes in 255/35/19 and 285/30/20. Should fit the OEM 19/20 double-stagger just fine.

Edit: My DD is a Mazda 3 turbo. Wallet not fat enough for an $75k DD. LOLOL